92
Chapter 92
There was a brief commotion caused by a misunderstanding.
The frog, having witnessed the group of rabbits entering our Dungeon, mistakenly thought we were under attack and returned to the lake to lead an army of monsters here.
In other words, it wasn't an invasion.
They had simply rushed over purely to save us.
Fortunately, the misunderstanding was quickly resolved.
After all, I could communicate with monsters now.
If I was still unable to speak, and if Tosuni hadn't come out with me, a dizzying situation would have unfolded.
A terrible situation where everyone here would have been slaughtered by Tosun's Mom.
"Ribbit... I thought you were in danger. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding."
Having grasped the situation, the frog scratched its head awkwardly.
The lake monsters that came along also exchanged sheepish glances with each other.
"Bear bear, bear bear bear bear."
There's no need to apologize.
It was an understandable mistake.
Even though Tosuni, a rabbit-type monster, was part of our Dungeon, it would be hard to imagine that she and the group of rabbits knew each other.
Just because they were rabbit-type monsters didn't mean they were all friends.
Just like the case with the Iron Rabbit.
And in fact, I was grateful to the frog.
Even though it clearly seemed to know the rabbits were opponents it couldn't beat, it still tried to rescue us while risking death.
I had never been so touched.
Maybe a little trust had been built through today's events.
"Uhuhum, it seems you've made new friends already. Son-in-law Bear really has excellent sociability."
Tosun's Mom said with a pleased smile.
She also added that I had made good friends.
Saying that the type to risk their lives to save a friend in danger wasn't common.
Are they really good friends?
Hmm... I'm still not sure.
Because I hadn't directly met the one called the Master of the Lake.
I was truly moved and felt thankful for today's events, but I had to refrain from completely trusting the lake monsters until I met the Master of the Lake.
For reference, that Blue Titanoboa guy wasn't the Master of the Lake.
I thought it was the Master of the Lake since it was a huge snake, but it turned out to be the Master of the Lake's daughter.
Well, anyway.
Regardless of whether I trusted them or not.
They were guys who rushed a long way to save us, so I couldn't just send them back.
"Bear bear bear, bear bear bear bear bear."
So, after taking down the Flag.
I suggested we all enjoy the festival together since they came all this way, and then brought all the guys from the lake into the Dungeon.
The Blue Titanoboa was able to shrink its body size using some kind of skill, and since the rest were mostly small monsters, we could barely accommodate everyone in the Dungeon.
Now then, first of all....
I should raid the first floor's warehouse.
I need to generously use the stored monster corpses.
Since we have more guests, I must serve a much more plentiful meal.
***
Our Dungeon members.
The Fake Dolls serving the food.
The rabbits from the Rabbit Dungeon.
Even the frog and the kids from the lake.
A scene unfolded where various monsters gathered on the second floor to enjoy the festival together harmoniously.
"Yong-yong! It's gotten so bustling!"
"Hoee! There are so many friends! This is exciting!"
Even though they were uninvited guests, our Dungeon guys welcomed everyone without a single hint of discomfort.
The rabbits were no different.
When I said they were my guests, they welcomed them enthusiastically.
The Luna Rabbit also showed interest in the lake monsters.
She had grabbed one of the numerous Toad monsters and was striking up a conversation.
"Wooung, the largest lake on the continent... The master there must be a different guy from the one I knew in the past. I definitely heard the master changed a long time ago, and it must have kept changing since then."
"Croak, crooooak."
"I wonder what kind of guy the current new master is. I don't really have the desire to go out of my way to meet him because it's a bother, but still, wooung."
"Crooooaaaak."
"Wooung? He's a great guy, but he's still nothing compared to our Moon Tribe, you say? You must have known about us."
"Croak! Croak!"
"Saying you've respected us since the old days, that's excessive flattery. But is it really okay for you to insult your master like that?"
"Cr, croak... crooooak."
"Understood, I will keep it a secret."
"Croak!"
And so, the festival continued.
When the atmosphere was at its peak, the frog quietly approached me as I was busy cooking.
"Teddy Bear, take this, ribbit."
"Bear?"
The frog handed over a box without fail today as well.
Inside the box were even more Pink Mana Stones than yesterday.
"Earlier, when I saw the rabbits entering your Dungeon, I threw this on the ground to rush and call for help. Fortunately, it seems no one passed by, as it was still right there, so I brought it, ribbit."
"Bear bear."
Thank you.
I'll accept it gratefully.
I took the box and placed it down next to me.
"By the way, Teddy Bear, you weren't actually mute. Were you keeping your mouth shut all this time because you didn't trust me...."
No, I wasn't.
I couldn't speak last time.
"Still, seeing as we're having a conversation like this now, can I assume you've finally opened your heart to us, ribbit?"
The frog asked.
I paused my cooking for a moment and looked at it.
"Bear, bear bear bear bear?"
Hmm. A little bit of trust has been built, right?
That was how I answered for now.
Hearing my answer, the frog gave a satisfied smile.
For reference, I am still suspicious.
I'm thinking that perhaps they tried to save us because they didn't want their prey taken by others, or maybe it was a scheme to earn our trust. I'm also suspecting that the reason they keep sending gifts is to fatten us up—or more accurately, to make us grow stronger before eating us.
I'm not usually this suspicious of a person....
Maybe it's because I viewed the frog negatively from the start, but doubts kept blooming in my heart.
However, there was a change of heart triggered by today's events.
Originally, I had no intention of ever meeting the Master of the Lake in my entire life, but I thought it might be okay to visit and express my gratitude someday if we build deeper trust than we have now.
Since it wouldn't be dangerous if I went along with Tosun's Mom.
***
The largest lake on the continent.
The master of that place, the Imugi, breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the report from the safely returned frog.
"It's a relief that it wasn't an invasion."
"It was all my misunderstanding. I apologize, ribbit...."
"It is fine. Who wouldn't have misunderstood in such a situation?"
After the Imugi said that.
It raised its head and took in the sight of the moon rising in the night sky.
"More importantly, to think they seem to be maintaining a deep relationship with the Moon Tribe......."
Deep in thought, the Imugi let out a soft groan for a long time.
The frog silently looked up at the Imugi.
It wondered what the Imugi was thinking so intensely about, but since it wasn't in a position to ask such questions, it merely tilted its head in confusion.
The Imugi soon lowered its head again.
And looked at the box the frog was holding.
"...But why do you keep bringing back gifts? Do you think we are doing some kind of barter?"
"I really couldn't help it, ribbit...."
"Tomorrow, just hand over our gift and return immediately."
"I would like to do that too, but it seems realistically difficult... If I deliver the gift, they naturally force a gift on me in return... Even if I want to refuse, they absolutely won't let me go unless I take it. But I can't just throw it away on the way back, can I, ribbit......."
"......If that's the case, double the amount of our gift starting tomorrow. We have our pride, we absolutely cannot give a gift of lesser value than theirs."
"Understood, ribbit."
***
The morning after the festival ended.
The frog came visiting holding a box much larger than yesterday's.
"Hello, ribbit."
"Hello! Hand over the Mana Stones!"
The Fox received the box with a beaming smile.
Inside the box, Pink Mana Stones were fully packed.
The amount looked to be almost double.
Why did they suddenly increase the amount like this?
Did they pack more as a token of sincerity for yesterday's festival?
Well, we did generously serve the guys from the lake very delicious food, feeding them until they were full before sending them back.
"Then I will be going, ribbit!"
"Bye!"
The frog trying to leave in a hurry.
He was caught by our Fake Dolls and dragged right in front of me.
Where are you running off to, man.
You have to take our gift before you go.
"Ribbit......."
Here, take it.
Since you gifted us a lot, we packed plenty too.
I gifted the frog an amount about 2.5 times larger than the white mana stones I gave yesterday.
For some reason, the frog trudged back holding the gift with a sullen expression.
*
And the next day.
The frog came visiting holding a box.
"Hello, ribbit."
"...!"
"Baby frog, are you here? Come on in."
The Puppeteer Doll and Ailee welcomed the frog.
The frog handed them a box larger than yesterday's.
"I brought a gift today too, take it, ribbit."
What's this?
Are they trying to have a showdown over who gives more gifts?
If so, I can't lose.
"I'm really going back empty-handed today, ribbit."
"Bear bear, bear bear bear."
"...A-alright. I'll take it, so don't say such scary things, ribbit."
We also packed a full gift for the frog before sending it back.
*
And the next day again.
The frog visited carrying an even larger box.
"Hello, ribbit!!!"
"Mister frog is here again! You come to play every day!"
"Kku-o? The box seems to be getting bigger and bigger, or is it my imagination?"
The Little Yellow Dragon and Jjokkomi received the box.
Jjokkomi, it's not your imagination.
The box has become as big as your body.
"Ribbit... Then, I'm making a run for it!!!"
The frog checked its surroundings, then turned around and sprinted at full speed.
However, it couldn't escape the Dungeon.
"Wooung."
Because it was caught by Tosuni's Blood Whip.
I gathered an even larger amount of white mana stones than what we had received and approached the frog.
You want to drop off a gift and run away? Do you want a scolding?
Wearing a fierce expression, I set the giant box down in front of the frog with a thud.
If you don't take this, you can't go back today.
"Ribbiiit......."
In the end, the guy trudged back today as well, taking our gift along.
*
The next day.
And the next day.
And the day after that.
The gift exchange continued endlessly.
The frog kept bringing a larger amount of Natural Mana Stones.
It seemed the lake was overflowing with those Mana Stones.
We gifted white mana stones matching the amount the frog gave us.
Now, it felt more like we were bartering rather than exchanging gifts.
For reference, there was absolutely no loss for us.
In fact, it could be seen as a profitable situation.
Thanks to securing a natural habitat for Natural Mana Stones, we were exchanging white mana stones made of our overflowing Consumption Mana for Pink Mana Stones made of Reinforcement Mana, which we lacked.
Now, the second floor's warehouse was also filled with Pink Mana Stones.
It was enough to share with everyone, rather than giving them all to the Fox.
Of course, we hadn't shared them yet.
They were still all designated as the Fox's share.
Because there was no guarantee this barter would continue for a long time without stopping.
Hoping that this relationship would continue, I prepared an even more special gift today.
White mana stones were a given.
Along with the special blood Tosun's Mom had gifted us, and even the Edible Hellfire that Jjokkomi had painstakingly made.
***
The Imugi stared blankly at the gift the frog had brought back.
It had an expression of utter disbelief.
"...Today, my pride is hurt far too much. Now, this is a battle of pride between them and us."
Sending gifts to earn their trust.
This plan was no longer a concern.
Right now, the priority was to restore its pride by sending a gift even better than what the Teddy Bears were sending.
"Bring that here."
"Ribbit!"
Hearing the Imugi's command, the frog quickly dove to the bottom of the lake.
And it came up to the surface fully loaded with the items that had been carefully stored there.
"I brought it, ribbit!"
The items the frog brought.
They were none other than dozens of Scales that had fallen off the Imugi's body.
Naturally, they weren't ordinary Scales.
They were blue Scales, of which only one was produced a year from the giant Imugi's body, containing a vastly larger amount of Consumption Mana than the highest-grade White Natural Mana Stones, and even holding Reinforcement Mana.
"There is no way they possess anything better than this...."
A wicked smile spread across the Imugi's face.
"With this, they wouldn't dare think of returning the favor for the gift I send."